Joao Paulo Ananias

Nobody signed João Paulo Ananias from another club — Santos has had him since he was ten, and every step of his rise has taken place inside the same academy. He joined the youth setup in 2018 and stayed there through the age groups, signing his first professional contract with the club in September 2023.

The clearest sign of what he could do at youth level came in 2025, when Santos won the Campeonato Paulista Sub-20. Ananias scored twice in the final, a rare contribution from a defender in a match of that stature.

In August 2025, before he had played a single senior minute, Santos extended his contract through to 2030 — a vote of confidence that preceded his promotion to the first team by several months. That step came in April 2026, when head coach Cuca moved him up to the senior squad. His debut followed on 25 April 2026, away to Bahia, a match that finished 2-2.

International recognition has come at under-20 level with Brazil. He has played twice for that side, both times against Paraguay, with the team winning 3-1 on each occasion.